Festival stays on the ball with annual marathon

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LISTOWEL, the long-distance, low-frills Festival, started unpromisingly this year. Winds howling around the town would have flattened the harvest this meeting traditionally celebrates. Three horses died and jockeys protested about course safety, all on a Sunday being used only so that this seven-day marathon can conclude before another sporting event held dear in these parts.

Roadsigns for the races start 20 miles away but do not be seduced into thinking that the green-and-gold flags waving from every garden are a further welcome. These merely indicate support for the Kerry gaelic football team playing in the All-Ireland final on Sunday. “We